Here's an e-mail being circulated by our friend, Alan Flacks:
THE FLACKS REPORT
Is "Client Nine" a One-term Governor?
Oh, boy! Oy, vey! Will the Republicans make "hay" over this. [While most of you on this political "list-serve" probably have already heard the breaking political news of this day, I know that some may not have since not all of us have NY1 or CNN television or the radio on or are "genetically attached" to their computer E-mails and alerts.]
Governor Elliot Spitzer has admitted to being a client ("#9") of a high-price call girl operation investigated undertaken by the Southern District U.S. Attorney. In a very brief news conference at 3 p.m. today, Spitzer didn't really announce much at all except his apology and remorse to his family, and he didn't deny the allegations the prosecutors are making against him. He is tough, and may not resign, but he certainly has impaired his job and chances for re-election in light of his previous contretemps ("Trooper-gate," "drivers' licenses," et cet.).
Joe Mercurio says that this is not the kind of thing which should change governments (certainly not in Europe!). Norm Adler thinks the Gov. might tough it out. Yet Spitzer's "governance" is now questioned, and Assembly Republicans are publicly talking about impeachment.
Speaking of impeachment, when William Clinton was impeached, it was a travesty of justice. As his biggest House defender, Jerry Nadler, put it, such sexual indiscretions did not rise to the Founding Father's definition of the Constitutional "high crimes and misdemeanors." And sagacious Bube Marlene Zucker wondered, "What does the American public want for a President? A castrato?"
Will Elliot "hang tough"?
Or resign?
If Spitzer doesn't resign, we think he'll give new meaning to the term, " lame duck ."
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